Meet El Ombre!

#1-3 Remember this bag? It is a $25 Marc Jacobs I picked up at the flea market. It had really been used and abused! I think there was even gum stuck to the bottom, and no amount of cleaning would even make a dent in the stains. I first posted about it here, where you all voted to turn it citron...

... which I did. Sort of. Inspiration struck, and now it is lime/citron ombre! The colors are more like pic 1, but it is not that shiny. The shine is more like 5-7. I'm beyond happy with it, and even DH likes it a LOT. I can always nitpick at my work, and there are some spots where the fade is not seamless if you look close, but I keep hearing an old teacher's voice saying that half of art is knowing when to stop before you ruin it... lol.

For any of you Tarrago Dye users out there wondering about how they mix: they mix beautifully. I did not have to add anything to combine the dyes - just put 'em both in a bottle and shook it up. They do separate after a time, but re-shaking combines them again and gives a perfectly even color - no streaks.

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30 Comments

  • Sylvie replied 11 years ago

    That's beautiful! Just stunning! (Lock your doors at night)

  • Mo replied 11 years ago

    Wow! Amazing dye job Rae!

  • Mochi replied 11 years ago

    Gosh! If Angie hasn't already dubbed you the Citron Queen and Patron Saint of Lost Handbags (Claire shares that one with you), then I will!

  • replied 11 years ago

    WOW AWESOME!!!

  • Mochi replied 11 years ago

    Hey, wait--I just actually picked up on this little factoid I'd missed--this was a Marc Jacobs bag!?!? Was the previous owner crazy? Anyway, you did an awesome job.

  • annagybe replied 11 years ago

    Awesome. It turned out way better than I expected.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, ladies! I know there were some who thought DIYing a MJ bag was a bad idea, but I went for it because this particular style is only moving for what I'd have to put into it to refurbish professionally.

    Mochi - I know! I know our things are there to be used, but geez...

    Anna, it came out better than I expected, too!

  • replied 11 years ago

    Wow, it looks fantastic! You have inspired me!

  • Ornella replied 11 years ago

    Awesome!!!

    And - aren't our old teachers the best! They casually, matter-of-factly say something and their words stick in our minds forever.

  • Janet replied 11 years ago

    Oh wow, this is terrific.

    I have a nice cream soft pebbled leather Perlina bag that has a faint stain on it -- maybe the dye from a handle from another bag rubbed off on it, because it has that shape to it. But not only does the stain bother me, it's also not a color that I really seem to reach for, even though I thought I might like it in the summer. Maybe this is a call to dye it... Ooh, maybe burgundy...

    Thanks for giving me ideas! Congrats on a DIY well done.

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    You are sooo talented! This looks remarkably fabtastic! Can't wait to see it in some outfits.

  • jayne replied 11 years ago

    oooo so cool effect and colors....ombre fabness! I just ordered some dyes in bordeaux to change a pair of booties from brown to ..well...bordeaux...you are master!

  • fern replied 11 years ago

    I am so impressed - I love the ombre.

  • replied 11 years ago

    very impressive!

  • goldenpig replied 11 years ago

    Wow! So cool! I love the colors and it's so fresh and unexpected to have the darker color on top. Amazing rescue--how did you get rid of the gum stain? You and Claire should open up a handbag hospital and sell your refurbished dyed handbags!

  • Jjsloane replied 11 years ago

    How cool. Love it - great job!

  • ironkurtin replied 11 years ago

    Oh I love this! How did you fix the rip in the back?!

  • Jaime replied 11 years ago

    I am filled with admiration!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Yay, thank you for validating this risky dye job! I was so fearful I'd end up with a streaky mess...

    IK, that actually wasn't a tear, but a wad of... something. I'm going with gum, because that's the least horrifying. I attacked it with acetone.

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    So fab! The DIY Queen strikes again!!

  • Gaylene replied 11 years ago

    Amazing! Those "before and after" shots are something else. I can't believe how good it looks!

  • Joy replied 11 years ago

    Your skills and vision are amazing. El Ombre is the perfect name.

  • deb replied 11 years ago

    This looks great. Question, how did you get the gum off?

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Deb, I used acetone and elbow grease. I figured the acetone couldn't possibly damage the color any further. :)

  • christy replied 11 years ago

    Too fab! You are such the DIY queen!!!

  • Brain of Jen replied 11 years ago

    Wow, what a fantastic job you did! That color is amazing! Love it!

  • Marley replied 11 years ago

    Are you kidding me???? This is gorgeous - Mr. Mark will probably be copying you on this for his new line of bags!

  • Lyn D. replied 11 years ago

    It looks beautiful Rae!

  • CocoLion replied 11 years ago

    That settles it. You and Claire need your own DIY show!

  • harmonica replied 11 years ago

    Amazing! Your DIY skills are beyond this world!

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